# Reference and bake Rhino groups

**URL:** <https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/reference-and-bake-rhino-groups/214881>\
**Category:** Grasshopper\
**Tags:** windows, rhino8\
**Created:** [January 22, 2026, 12:40am UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/reference-and-bake-rhino-groups/214881 "2026-01-22T00:40:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 10\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![parametricmonkey1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/parametricmonkey1/32/704032_2.png) [@parametricmonkey1](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/parametricmonkey1)\
**Post date:** [January 22, 2026, 12:40am UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/reference-and-bake-rhino-groups/214881/1 "2026-01-22T00:40:44Z")

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Hi

Problem 1: Is there a way to reference a Rhino group, as opposed to the objects from that group?

Problem 2: Is there a way to use the Cache component to bake groups?

Background: I am trying to create a dynamic spot elevation that consists of a leader showing the z-value. However, for Rhino to reference a Point Coordinate in a Text Field, it must reference a Point object. It cannot be a Leader (i.e. self-referential). As a workaround, I’ve discovered that if I group a point and a leader (with the leader referencing the point), and I copy the group, the Text field reference of the leader updates automatically to the point in the new group instance. So it works manually.

 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/uploads/default/original/4X/9/e/c/9ecc3d3d4e9e0e9609b4a5b3c9ab7ea915c71de9.png)

In Grasshopper, when I query model objects by group name, it returns separate objects rather than the group. I believe this is because a group is just metadata within individual objects, not an actual object. So that is the first issue. I can duplicate content and create new groups, but then the issue is Cache doesn’t work with groups.

 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/uploads/default/original/4X/e/a/6/ea625328dbe28eeeff3fb8fa61277576ebf3dcaa.jpeg)

The other issue is that a text field must already have the Rhino point created (baked). So the script needs to be in two parts: 1 to create the groups, and 2 to update the leader’s text field. But when I try this, it creates new groups rather than updating the existing ones.

Any ideas on how to resolve these issues? I’m sure there must be an easier way.

[Spot\_Elevation.3dm](https://discourse.mcneel.com/uploads/short-url/eVc4o4fZILzfKLKdLus1ci1a0d3.3dm) (135.5 KB)

[260122 Sport elevation\_2.gh](https://discourse.mcneel.com/uploads/short-url/4IHaaGGqWQgZFr2ddLWe5EkK7k2.gh) (44.0 KB)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![parametricmonkey1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/parametricmonkey1/32/704032_2.png) [@parametricmonkey1](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/parametricmonkey1)\
**Post date:** [January 22, 2026, 10:25pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/reference-and-bake-rhino-groups/214881/2 "2026-01-22T22:25:46Z")

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Anyone?

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**Author:** ![Japhy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/japhy/32/487647_2.png) [@Japhy](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/Japhy)\
**Post date:** [January 22, 2026, 10:49pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/reference-and-bake-rhino-groups/214881/3 "2026-01-22T22:49:11Z")

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Hi Paul, That’s slated for 9.x, but not in the wip yet.

> [@Grasshopper Rhino components cannot bake groups?](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/grasshopper-rhino-components-cannot-bake-groups/197199):
>
> Hi @kike and @AndyPayne not sure for how long we can set named groups in Grasshopper but I like it… It would be nice if groups could be baked with the cache component. I couldn’t figure it out. Baking via RMB menu or shortcut to current layer works. [25\_01\_02\_test-9.gh](https://discourse.mcneel.com/uploads/short-url/rryilvs9JYdvpNVvabQp5c6L3QN.gh) (50.1 KB) [25\_01\_02\_test-9.3dm](https://discourse.mcneel.com/uploads/short-url/xCGf0P3wpfdBwvEYBy5zVrkGLIP.3dm) (81.5 KB)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![parametricmonkey1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/parametricmonkey1/32/704032_2.png) [@parametricmonkey1](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/parametricmonkey1)\
**Post date:** [January 22, 2026, 11:03pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/reference-and-bake-rhino-groups/214881/4 "2026-01-22T23:03:55Z")

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Thanks @Japhy. Of course, the easiest solution would be for PointCoordinate text field to work with leaders, not just points. Could this be implemented?

In the meantime, I can use RMB to bake. But is there a way for me to update the existing groups (Part 2), without creating duplicates?

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**Author:** ![martinsiegrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/martinsiegrist/32/498369_2.png) [@martinsiegrist](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/martinsiegrist)\
**Post date:** [January 22, 2026, 11:05pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/reference-and-bake-rhino-groups/214881/5 "2026-01-22T23:05:25Z")

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Blocks?

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**Author:** ![parametricmonkey1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/parametricmonkey1/32/704032_2.png) [@parametricmonkey1](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/parametricmonkey1)\
**Post date:** [January 22, 2026, 11:18pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/reference-and-bake-rhino-groups/214881/6 "2026-01-22T23:18:16Z")

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I’ve tried this, but when blocks are created, the PointCoordinate text field reference doesn’t work.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Japhy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/japhy/32/487647_2.png) [@Japhy](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/Japhy)\
**Post date:** [January 23, 2026, 12:01am UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/reference-and-bake-rhino-groups/214881/7 "2026-01-23T00:01:59Z")

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> [@parametricmonkey1](#):
>
> I’ve tried this, but when blocks are created, the PointCoordinate text field reference doesn’t work.

It should. See this thread for details and an example.

> [@Decimal zeros missing (PointCoordinate function)](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/decimal-zeros-missing-pointcoordinate-function/210680/4):
>
> Here’s the file i’m working with [BlockTextField.3dm](https://discourse.mcneel.com/uploads/short-url/nsE5n5pyOXrUYZZIwp1vqdXL7SF.3dm) (61.6 KB)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![martinsiegrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/martinsiegrist/32/498369_2.png) [@martinsiegrist](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/martinsiegrist)\
**Post date:** [January 23, 2026, 12:10am UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/reference-and-bake-rhino-groups/214881/8 "2026-01-23T00:10:49Z")

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There’s also this topic here… [Self referencing TextFields in Rhino 8.10 - #12 by Gijs](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/self-referencing-textfields-in-rhino-8-10/185020/12)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![parametricmonkey1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/parametricmonkey1/32/704032_2.png) [@parametricmonkey1](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/parametricmonkey1)\
**Post date:** [January 23, 2026, 12:13am UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/reference-and-bake-rhino-groups/214881/9 "2026-01-23T00:13:27Z")

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A new feature added back in October. No UI functionality yet, but great that this has been added. Thanks @Japhy

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**Author:** ![brian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/brian/32/504171_2.png) [@brian](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/brian)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 8:36pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/reference-and-bake-rhino-groups/214881/10 "2026-03-17T20:36:09Z")

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[RH-68819](https://mcneel.myjetbrains.com/youtrack/issue/RH-68819) is fixed in Rhino [WIP](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/welcome-to-serengeti/9612)